Someone Else's Life, by Katie Dale

Someone Else's Life, by Katie Dale
Author Info: Blog / Facebook / Twitter
Publisher: Random House
Release Date: February 14, 2012
ARC: 464 pages
Genre: Young Adult Contemporary
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Random Buzzers
Challenge: Debut Author, YA Contemporary
Rating: ★★★★
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When 17-year-old Rosie's mother, Trudie, dies from Huntington's Disease, her pain is intensified by the knowledge that she has a fifty percent chance of inheriting the crippling disease herself. Only when Rosie tells her mother's best friend, "Aunt Sarah," that she is going to test for the disease does Sarah, a midwife, reveal that Trudie wasn't her real mother after all. Rosie was swapped at birth with a sickly baby who was destined to die.Devastated, Rosie decides to trace her real mother, joining her ex-boyfriend on his gap year travels, to find her birth mother in California. But all does not go as planned. As Rosie discovers yet more of her family's deeply buried secrets and lies, she is left with an agonizing decision of her own, one which will be the most heart breaking and far-reaching of all.

When I first added this book to my reading list for the Debut Author Challenge, I thought it sounded really good. I got excited when I saw it in the Random Buzzer's store, but when it got here I just let it sit. I really wanted to read it, but was worried about the tough subject. Not that I've ever known anyone with Huntington's, but I was still worried.

Yes, it was a bit hard at times, but it's a wonderful book. Katie Dale really did her research and you learn a lot about Huntington's while reading it.  You also really get into the emotions of what it's like to love someone with the disease and all the effects it has on everyone.

Not only does she have the subject of Huntingtons, but she throws in what it would be like to be switched at birth! To have your mother, the woman you thought gave birth to you, die from Huntington's Disease, and then find out that you weren't really her daughter at all. If that happened to me, I would break down severely and sit in a dark closet for a very long time. But that's not what Rosie did!

Even though she loved the woman who she thought was her mother, the one who raised her, she wanted to know who her real parents were so she went searching! She hit a lot of obstacles along the way, but she was never completely selfish. Even when sometimes she had a right to be really upset and selfish, she tried her best to make the most of it.

Rosie was a really great character. It took me a while to get into the book and to get into Rosie's character, but as the story progressed I really started liking her character.Holly, on the other hand, completely annoyed me. At times, I really felt for her, but other times I just wanted to slap her. (Not going to tell you who she is!)


I really liked all the other characters. Especially Andy. I felt so bad for him a lot of the time, but he was a strong character. He was Rosie's rock.

Overall, this was a beautiful novel. It is also pretty uniquely written! Part One is told in chapters in Rosie's point-of-view. Part Two isn't cut up into chapters, but into point-of-views of Rosie and Holly.

If you've had someone close to you suffer from Huntington's Disease, or any disease at all, I highly recommend this book. Even if you haven't known any suffer from any disease, it's still a great book. Tough subject, but someone has to write them, right?! And Katie Dale chose to be the one with courage and to write this beautiful book. I'm very impressed and will definitely be keeping an eye out on Katie's work!

Starters, by Lissa Price

Starters, by Lissa Price
(Starters, #1)
Publisher: Delecorte Press
Release Date: March 13, 2012
ARC: 368 pages
Genre: Young Adult Dystopian
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 5 days
Source: Random Buzzers
Challenge: Debut Author, Dystopian
Rating:
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HER WORLD IS CHANGED FOREVER 
Callie lost her parents when the Spore Wars wiped out everyone between the ages of twenty and sixty. She and her little brother, Tyler, go on the run, living as squatters with their friend Michael and fighting off renegades who would kill them for a cookie. Callie's only hope is Prime Destinations, a disturbing place in Beverly Hills run by a mysterious figure known as the Old Man. 
He hires teens to rent their bodies to Enders—seniors who want to be young again. Callie, desperate for the money that will keep her, Tyler, and Michael alive, agrees to be a donor. But the neurochip they place in Callie's head malfunctions and she wakes up in the life of her renter, living in her mansion, driving her cars, and going out with a senator's grandson. It feels almost like a fairy tale, until Callie discovers that her renter intends to do more than party—and that Prime Destinations' plans are more evil than Callie could ever have imagined. . . .

I have to admit, this was one of those books that I saw and thought sounded pretty interesting, but I wasn't going all crazy wanting it. I told myself I could wait and if I saw it in the library someday, I'd read it. Then it came in the mail as my book for the Ambuzzador program for Random Buzzers. When I opened it and saw it, I was a little disappointed.

I tried to get really excited about it, but I couldn't. Until I started reading it! It sucked me in and I couldn't stop. If I would of had more reading time, I probably would of finished it in a day, two tops. I wanted to keep reading it and reading it.

Every time a chapter ended and I had to put it down to go to bed or do something else other than reading, I kept wondering what was going to happen to Callie next. What would Helena do next? At first, I was wondering what kind of crazy Helena was on, but then as Callie--and I--got to know her, I really started to like her.

The characters in this book were so interesting, even the other "renters" that you would meet for a little bit along the way. I really liked Callie, she did what she had to in order to protect her little brother Tyler. She made a grown up decision and sucked in her pride and went in to Prime Destinations to be RENTED out to the Ender's who were over a hundred years old and wanted to use her body so they could feel young again and do things they couldn't do as an ender.

The world Price created was very intriguing and very scary. I love Dystopian novels, but so many are coming out nowadays that I'm getting worried that the genre is going to become too overdone and each new dystopian novel you pick up is going to have something in it that has already been used. And that scares me. But I can definitely say that this was not the case with Starters.

I mean, can you just imagine it? A world where everyone from 20 to 60 is just gone. POOF! Ceases to exist? And all that's left is the Starters, who are ages 19 and below, and then the Enders who are 60 to, like, 200! I really like the way that got this idea started in her head as well, all over the flu shot crisis a couple of years back.

Overall, this was a great dystopian. A great debut, and kept me completely intrigued until the last age. And you know, it doesn't even stop there, I'm intrigued on what is going to happen in the sequel. I really wish that it came out, like, right now. If you love Dystopian, I definitely recommend it. Heck, even if you don't like Dystopian at least give it a try. It could surprise you!

The second book in the series is called  Enders. It is expected to be published on December 12, 2012. 

Bad Taste In Boys, by Carrie Harris

Bad Taste In Boys, by Carrie Harris
(Kate Grable, #1)
Publisher: Delacorte Press
Release Date: July 12, 2011
Hardcover: 201 pages
Genre: Young Adult Paranormal
Buy: Amazon
Read it in: 1 day
Source: Library
Challenge: TBR Pile
Rating: 

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Someone's been a very bad zombie.Kate Grable is horrified to find out that the football coach has given the team steroids. Worse yet, the steriods are having an unexpected effect, turning hot gridiron hunks into mindless flesh-eating zombies. No one is safe--not her cute crush Aaron, not her dorky brother, Jonah . . . not even Kate! She's got to find an antidote--before her entire high school ends up eating each other. So Kate, her best girlfriend, Rocky, and Aaron stage a frantic battle to save their town  . . . and stay hormonally human.

This was a quick and enjoyable read. It's one of those books that has supernatural beings in it, but it's not meant to be taken serious. It was funny and really sets the pace to be intriguing, yet not something that will make your heart race.

The characters were pretty funny. I hope they develop a lot better in the sequel. Kate was a pretty strong, smart character. She definitely seems to work well under stress and does what it takes to save the day. She bugged me a little bit at times, but overall she was a pretty cool character. Can't wait to see what she has in store for us in the sequel! All the other characters felt a teensy bit flat to me, but were pretty funny at times. I like Jonah and Aaron.

A lot of times it seemed a bit unbelievable, but that was in the way I said before on it not something you would take seriously.

Overall, it was a fun read and I'll definitely be reading the sequel. I may even go back later this year or next year and re-read it. Give me something light and non-serious to read. If you like zombies and want something short and fun to read, I would recommend it.

The second book in the series is called Bad Hair Day. It will be released on Novemeber 13, 2012. 

Oh, and by the way, keep a lookout for Shanyn from ChickLovesLit & Tirzah from The Compulsive Read. They may make an appearance in the trailer. =P

Other Words for Love, by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal

Other Words For Love, by Lorraine Zago Rosenthal
Publisher: Delecorte Books for Young Readers 
Release Date: January 11, 2011
Hardcover: 368 pages
Age Group: Young Adult
Buy:Amazon
Source: Library
Challenge: Debut Author, A to Z, Support Your Local Library, 350 page book
Rating: 

When an unexpected inheritance enables Ari to transfer to an elite Manhattan prep school, she makes a wealthy new friend, Leigh. Leigh introduces Ari to the glamorous side of New York--and to her gorgeous cousin, Blake. Ari doesn't think she stands a chance, but amazingly, Blake asks her out. As their romance heats up, they find themselves involved in an intense, consuming relationship. Ari's family worries that she is losing touch with the important things in life, like family, hard work, and planning for the future. 
When misfortune befalls Blake's family, he pulls away, and Ari's world drains of color. As she struggles to get over the breakup, Ari must finally ask herself: were their feelings true love . . . or something else?

I finished this book over an hour ago, and since then I've been thinking about my review. This will be a hard book to review. To be honest I wasn't really sure what I was expecting out of this book. I mean, I saw it on the debut author challenge list and I fell in love with the cover. The summary sounded pretty interesting, so I added it to my list of books I'd like to read for the challenge. 


When I put it on hold from the library, I didn't really know what I was going to get out of this book. It sounded interesting, but I still wasn't sure. You know what I mean? But this book, wow. I'm so glad I read it. A lot of people probably see the cover, and the title and then read that this book is about first love and think it's a fluffy read. Well, they are all wrong. Very wrong. 


It's not only just about first love. It's basically nearly everything to do with growing up, being a teenager, trying to live up to what everyone expects you to be like. I think everyone can find some part of this book to relate to. 


At first, it was kind of hard to get into it. I'll admit that. You basically go through Ari's every day life; get up, eat breakfast, socialize with parents, go to school, socialize with best friend, eat lunch, come home, do homework, etc. But after a while I got sucked in. Lorraine has a way of writing it that doesn't make it seem boring at all. She makes you WANT to know about Ari's life. And lots of months went by, about two years, actually, and it didn't drag on at all. I find it amazing she was able to add years into the book without adding "Seven months later" or "one year later" etc. 


And the characters. Wow! They were so greatly mapped out and real. Everything felt real. I liked Ari, though she sometimes really annoyed me. Like towards the end especially. But she made me proud! And I liked Leigh, a lot better than Summer. Summer annoyed me. So did Del a little bit, but he was pretty cool. I really liked Blake, but some things he did really made me mad. You'll understand that once you read this book! 


And Ari's parents. They had a pretty big role in this book as well. A lot of books nowadays mentions their parents, but you don't get to know them very well. But her parent's were their own characters. Even Ari's father who isn't mentioned much in the novel because of his job, but still. Amazing! 


Overall, this was a great book. I overestimated it. This is a book you definitely want to read, no matter how old you are. This book is just so relate able. Oh, and by the way, it was set in the late 1980's, but half the time you forget about that and don't even notice! I will definitely be reading more by this author. I can't wait to hear news on another book by her.